Lawyers for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in a suit filed Wednesday in federal court that Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., falsely accused Wuterich "of cold-blooded murder and war crimes" although they noted during a news conference that Murtha did not publicly name Wuterich to reporters, just the name of his squad.

President Bush vowed Wednesday that U.S. troops would not be withdrawn in Iraq to satisfy "artificial timetables set by politicians in Washington." But his Naval Academy speech in Annapolis, Md., could help set the stage for a reduction in troops next year.